Very pleased

Author's Rating:

Pros: Reliability, size, gas mileage, ride & comfort, braking & handling, looks.

Cons: Engine power, outside mirrors, no lights on cruise control buttons, rear visibility.

The Bottom Line: 
Troublefree, good gas mileage, size, ride, handling, comfort, quiet, cool aerodynamic look.

Author's Review
We bought our 2003 Dodge Intrepid SE, 2.7 Liter V6, new, back in March of '03 because we needed a full size car for a growing family. The Intrepid gave us the most car for the money after looking at other full size sedans such as Accords, Camrys, etc. It also seemed to be the largest.

I was apprehensive about buying a Dodge at first because we had a 2001 Neon at one time. the Neon was a terrible car and nothing but junk! I did some research and found the Intrepid received good marks from Consumer reports. We decided to buy it and have been very pleased.

Our Intrepid is a great car and it has exceeded my expectations! We have had absolutely no problems with it and now it's 5 years old with 83,000 miles. Never been in for any service, except tires. We do all the oil changes here at home every 3,000 miles. Use FRAM oil filters, Valveoline oil, and have a K&N air filter installed. It stays garaged, but is driven several times a week. It's exposed to hot humid summers and hard midwestern winters with the road salt & sand. There is no rust or corrosion on the body and no leaks from the engine or transmission. The car still looks new, like the day we bought it.

The 2.7 Liter V6 gets us an impressive 20 - 23 Miles Per Gallon running around in a suburban city with the A/C on. 25 - 27 Miles Per Gallon on the highway running about 75 MPH. (note: We try to keep the RPM's below 3,000 as much as possible when accelerating from stops.)

The driver's seat has electric switches that allow one to find a good position. It's very comfortable on long drives. A downside is you may find it hard to stay awake if you are driving while tired. The front passenger seat has only the mechanical levers, and it doesn't tilt the seat cushion like the driver's seat, but it's still comfortable. A 6'00" and 5'6" driver both fit the car great.

The ride is quiet, smooth, and road noise is minimal. The sleek aerodynamic shape of the car make strong winds hardly noticable. It is most likely a contributing factor for the good fuel economy. The car is low to the ground and has a low center of gravity. It handles well and braking is impressive for such a large vehicle. I've never heard the tires squeal or felt the anti-lock kick in.

The large headlamps put out impressive light and the brights make visibility excellent at night. The beam is broad and it lights up the road directly in front of you. These lights are the best I've seen in any car I've driven so far.

The trunk is large and spacious. It's one of the largest you will find in a modern car. The trunk hinges don't recede into the trunk itself so you can pack it to the brim, but you have to be careful not to damage the weather stripping on the bottom edge of the trunk door.

I don't hate anything about this car, but there are some things I would improve on. The outside mirrors seem small and they don't fold in. The cruise control buttons are on the steering wheel and they don't light up at night. I find myself turning on the interior light to see what button I'm hitting.

The cruise always accelerates the car up to four to five MPH past what you originally had set for a few seconds when ever you hit the resume button. It goes back to your original speed afterwards, but it takes some getting used to.

The rear seat space is huge. Plenty of leg room for two full size adults, but the seats are not as comfortable as the front.

I would like to have more engine power, but I can't complain about the gas mileage. One may want to consider the 3.5 liter V6 engine if you are willing to burn more gas. Anyone serious about buying an Intrepid should drive both to see the difference.

The 2.7 V6 is quiet except under higher RPM's. It whines a little louder than most other V6's. If you drive nice, you won't have to listen to it. It's got just enough power to push the car up to highway speed without needing to tap into the high RPM's.

The car is very low to the ground. It's roof actually sat lower than a 1992 Firebird's. The trunk lid is high compared to the rear window so rear visibility is limited directly behind the car (look out for small children or shopping carts). Access in and out can be a challenge for those who have bad knees or have trouble standing up from low seated positions. You'll have to get used to limited traffic visibility if you're used to driving a mini-van or SUV.

I recommend this car if you want a reliable, comfortable, full size car with good gas mileage. Make sure you find one that's been taken care of.